CHINUA ACHEBE 1930-2013

On Friday, March twenty-first, one of the finest writers of the 21st century passed away. Chinua Achebe was referred to affectionately as the father of African Literature. His first novel, 'Things Fall Apart', shows the destruction of tribal society by colonialism. I have only read two of his novels as only 'Things fall Apart' and  'Arrow of God'. These are two novels of phenomenal quality for two very different reasons. Things fall apart is not a literary masterpiece by any means. In fact, the storyline is the typical interaction between tribal and European societies and the subsequent destruction of the party with less weapons. However, therein lies the magic of Things Fall Apart. It was the first time the African experience of colonialism was articulated. It talks about the interactions and eventual destruction of Okonkwo's (the protagonist) tribal society. He  has interactions with two sections, the legislative sector and the religious sector. Encounters with British governors of other provinces and the missionary who has set up his church with the purpose of converting the 'savages', convince him of the need to fight the colonizer. The book was enthusiastically received and instantly turned Achebe into the biggest literary  discovery since Naipaul a couple years earlier. His third book, viewed  as a continuation of Things Fall Apart, The Arrow of God tells the story of two villages,Umurao and Okperi. The high priest of Umurao is Ezuelu, a proud man with a large family,although somewhat fickle. Controversially received, it not only attacked the system of the armed missionary,but also the system of traditional beliefs dominating the Ibo society of which he is a part. Full of African sayings and proverbs it chronicles the rise and fall of the high priest Ezuelu.

Achebe was never one to mince words. This made him an extremely controversial figure in certain parts of his homeland. Nigeria. This was especially evident during the secession of  certain states in the south-east of the country to form Biafran Republic. This action started events that led to the Nigerian Civil War which lasted from 1967 to 1970. The war is well known for its cruelty and no doubt contributed to the typical stereo-type that Africa is the land of war, starving people and a plethora of STD's. Achebe fell out of favor(if only temporary) with many Nigerians who saw the rebellion as illegal and supported by Apartheid South Africa and other outside power brokers. Even now, several decades after, his legacy remains somewhat divisive. Possibly that is the fate of the Third World writer. The jury is out on that and I or anybody doesn't have the right to cast judgement. That does not however take away one inch of his literary genius. What Achebe's case however does highlight is the faultiness of containing several hundred tribes and cultures in a confined space. In fact, it could be said that he courted controversy until the day literally that he died. That being said. the writer MUST  must be separated from the man. I dislike greatly V.S Naipaul's attitude but it does not stop me from acknowledging his enormous writing ability. Therefore the disrespect that I have seen some bloggers heap upon his memory is truly sad. He may have had views that did not sit well with many people but he also was a genius and for that he is to be respected.

So how will history judge Albert Chinualumogu Achebe? Will it say that he was a myopic, insular Nigerian who looked for the upliftment of the Ibo people alone? Will it read that Achebe was the African Naipaul? Or will it be a more balanced view? It should as Achebe peered into Nigerian  society and understood the reasons for the social and economic chaffing that has plagued Nigeria since the days of colonization. It is said that the quality of a writer is proven by the amount of fans he has, whether small or large. In this case, that is a faulty measuring stick. Many writers think that writing the truth is an excuse to be cynical. Achebe is not of this ilk. In fact, many of his writings are laden with love and respect for certain tribal institutions. He does not however mince his words in highlighting problems and the reasons behind these in his home country and by extension, the rest of Africa. Given this, and considering that we are all human and difference of opinion is what makes life what it is, Achebe should be treated with the utmost respect. He is after all the first and greatest of the Sub-Saharan writers and certainly one of the greatest writers ever

STING-DREAM OF THE BLUE TURTLES(UK)

In 1985, one of the greatest rock groups of all time had run its course. The Police had dominated the pop and rock charts for six years. It seemed as if the experiment was over, the last waltz was finished and people were going home. This did not come as a surprise to some as Andy Summers, Gordon Sumner(Sting) and Stewart Copeland were all working on solo projects and the accompanying strain no doubt was a major factor in the demise of the group. Sting then proceeded to embark on possibly the most ambitious project in pop music history. It could be said that he going insane or that he was so in love with himself that he was overflowing with confidence and ignoring the perceived wants of his listeners. In hindsight, such critics should hang their heads in shame. The Dream of The Blue Turtles is one of the finest albums of the eighties and also of all time. Soon after the breakup of the Police, Sting invited several young, top notch jazz musicians from The United States to play on it and form the Blue Turtles band. Omar Hakim played drums with Weather Report(no introduction needed). Branford Marsalis had played with Art Blakey and his brother Wynton, who(it should be mentioned),was totally against the project. Kenny Kirkland and Darryl Jones played keyboards and bass respectively with Miles Davis. Dollette Mcdonald and Janice Pendarvis were seasoned studio singers. The Dream of the Blue Turtles had arrived.

        The album itself has ten tracks, not including two bonus tunes. In many ways this album is a black sheep. Firstly, jazz had started it's descent as fresh ideas to make the music appeal to a younger audience had all but dried up. So a rock musician, more so a white musician making an album with black, jazz artistes was totally unheard of and sent the worlds of rock and jazz on a collision course. Secondly, this album is much more socially conscious than most other albums of the period. It actually was the first in a series of  albums by Sting culminating in 'Nothing But The Sun'(a review coming on this album soon) in 1987. The album starts off with 'If you love somebody,set them free', an extremely popular song that probably sold the album to the un-indoctrinated. Sting is an exceptional lyricist. as exemplified on 'Children's Crusade', a shadow classic. In poetic language, Sting parallels the literal Children's Crusades of the middle ages to the young men going to fight in World War I to the heroin addiction plaguing London's streets in the 1980s. 'Russians' pleads with leaders of the super powers to halt their march toward Mutual Assured Destruction(MAT) during the final years of the Cold War. Ending every verse with the line "I hope the Russians love their children too", he emphasises the futility of such action as both sides would lose anyway.Musically, these two tracks are extremely different as Children's Crusade features a full ensemble and an extended saxophone solo by Marsalis. Russians however features keyboards synths made to sound like a full symphony and Sting on vocals without backup. 'We Work The Black Seam'  is another socially conscious track which criticises the economic policies of Margaret Thatcher. Sting comes from a working class town which was famous for ship building an industry  which also collapsed with the advent of mass privatisation. 'Consider Me Gone' is about a man who is saying goodbye to all  the troubles plaguing the world today. 'Shadows in the Rain' features an extended keyboard solo from the late Kenny Kirkland. Enough fresh ideas were created on this album to power jazz and rock for the next twenty years. Unfortunately, the purists did not appreciate what took place in a studio in Barbados in 1984/5. Many purists(Wynton Marsalis being the most vocal), said that the project was rubbiish. I have a philosophy about that. I believe that the musician's duty is not only to play music but cover as many forms as possible in one's lifetime, both intellectually and performance-wise. The album concludes with another very popular love song 'Fortress Around Your Heart'. This song is a personal favorite of mine, Sting in this song tries to balance the price of loving a woman while trying not to keep her caged so that she looses her identity and spirit. This album is a masterpiece and should be on a 'must listen' list for any true music lover, any student of history or philosphy and anyone interested in the general future of music.

        

MERCEDES SOSA EN ARGENTINE(ARGENTINA)

   
 Nada Sera Como Antes
     
The culture of the first peoples of the Americas has been vilified and viewed as the culture of savages for the better part of  of the last millennium. This has been the case in this millennium also, but thankfully, this view is only held by the staunchest of colonial-minded Europeans. Nevertheless, the music of  South America's indigenous peoples has not only survived, but has served as an inspiration and influence for some of the finest musicians in the region. Mercedes Sosa was one of the leading lights of Amerindian folk music. Born in Buenos Aires in 1935,  she became possibly the greatest and best known folk singer in South America. She has influenced musicians from  Venezuela to Chile, Brazil to Paraguay. She has worked with artistes such as Milton Nascimento and Victor Jara. Her professional career started when she was 15 when she won a radio contest. This resulted in her receiving a two-month contract with that radio station.  A tireless worker, she made music almost literally until the day she died, her last album being released in 2009 (the year she died).  What is most remarkable about Sosa is the fact that despite being a member of a community frequently discriminated against, her songs focus on love and the unification of Latin America (an impossible dream.) just as Simon Bolivar himself had intended.

        MERCEDES SOSA EN ARGENTINE is an album of phenomenal quality. It is released at a very strange time in Argentinian history. The country is governed by a brutal dictatorship and also is fighting a soon-to-be infamous war with the British. Shortly, Argentinian national pride is going to suffer a major blow when the controversial sinking of the Belgrano catalyses their defeat in that war. In the midst of all this, Sosa (The Voice of Latin America) delivers a flawless performance.The set is as intimate as a poetry recital among lovers in an amphitheatre.The album starts off with 'Sueno Con Serpientes' or 'Dream With Snakes'. Looking at the translation of the lyrics in English, it becomes apparent that Cuban singer Silvio Rodriguez(the writer of the song sung by Sosa) tries to paint a picture of obsession, obsession that started off as a nightmare, no doubt about the writer's most obvious fears. A Cuban children's song titled Drume Negrita is also included. The real highlight of this album is the classic ballad 'Volver a los 17'. The first place I heard this song was on Gerais, an album by Milton Nascimento.Written by Violetta Para of Chile, it celebrates the joy of youthful life, as the title suggests. Sosa effortlessly uses the natural lift that is a characteristic of Spanish, in order to emphasise the beauty of it's poetry. Soul music, not American Soul but music that comes from deep within the heart.